Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

My brain is a strange place. A really strange place. Because while other people think about normal things like what they are going to do later, I daydream about pizza. Because pizza.

Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

Let me back up. Last weekend, it was gray and rainy and cool. We were having a lazy Saturday hanging out, all three of us in our pajamas, under the covers, watching Princess Sofia. It was pretty much perfect. Minus the Princess Sofia part. I have seen the entire series now several times through. Hence my mind was wandering just a little bit.

Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

And it wandered into pizza territory. As I’ve been planning all things fall, I couldn’t get past the idea of doing some sort of fall pizza. I mean, I absolutely love fall pasta like pumpkin penne with peas, Parmesan, and sage.

So that Saturday morning, my mind was wondering. I had been thinking about this pizza forever. Seriously. I kept shooting ideas back and forth with my best foodie friend. The one that threw together this awesome Tomato Chickpea and Quinoa Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette. They all were met with crickets. Until I texted her this idea which was met with:

Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

“You bring the stuff. I’ll make your crust!”

I clearly had a winner on my hands.

Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

And next thing I knew, just a few short hours later, I found myself at her house eating a buffalo chicken boat and making this pizza. And it was delicious. So delicious in fact, that both she and I made it again at our own respective houses the very next day. Because it was that good.

Pumpkin Parmesan Pizza with Brown Butter Caramelized Onions and Kale

All of the adults involved with the making and eating of this pizza loved it and agreed that if there was ever a pizza to serve on Thanksgiving, it is this pumpkin parmesan pizza with brown butter caramelized onions and kale. I mean, I’m not above not serving turkey on Thanksgiving. Last year, we had brown butter gnocchi with roasted squash and kale. This pizza pretty much as all those flavors.

Like I said: perfection. Absolute stunning pizza perfection with just the right balance of sweet from the pumpkin, salty from the parmesan, crispy from the kale, crunchy from the pine nuts, nuttiness from the brown butter, and savoriness from the onions. All topped with cheese. Mmmmm so good.

On the stove, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil. Let the butter melt, stirring occasionally. Keep cooking while stirring occasionally until the butter begins to smell nutty and browns. Then add the onion, crushed garlic, sugar, and salt and pepper. Cook the onions for about 30 minutes, stirring regularly until the onions reduce in volume by more than half and turn a caramel color. About 90 seconds prior to the end of cooking the onions, add in the sage and rosemary and thyme. Remove from pan and set aside.

In the same pan after removing onions, add an additional tbs of olive oil. Pour in the pumpkin puree and stir in half and half and Parmesan cheese. Stir until combined. Season with 4 cloves of crushed garlic, salt and pepper to taste and one chopped sage leaf. Let cook until warm.

While the sauce is warming, toss the nuts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly over a cookie sheet and bake in a 425 oven for 2 minutes.

In a small bowl, toss kale with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Spread the dough out thinly on a pizza pan or pizza stone. Spoon on the sauce, top with mozzarella and shredded parmesan cheese. Spoon on onions, spreading evenly then sprinkle on kale. Bake for approximately 6-8 minutes or until crust is golden brown, cheese is melted, and kale is crisp. Remove from oven and sprinkle on pine nuts. Serve hot and enjoy.

Notes

*You may need more milk, pending how thick the pumpkin puree is
**I used my favorite pizza crust recipe which you can find here. You can also buy a premade dough or crust.

You might have some pumpkin sauce leftover. Leftover sauce tastes great as a dip for bread or on a pasta.